If you're going high end, the head-fi meetups can be great, listen to hundreds of pairs of AKG, Beyer Dynamic, Shure, ATH, Denon, Grados etc, many more than any

If you're going high end, the head-fi meetups can be great, listen to hundreds of pairs of AKG, Beyer Dynamic, Shure, ATH, Denon, Grados etc, many more than any store stocks. (I also like the gear reviews in Recording mag, which are pitched at people building their own studios http://www.head-fi.org/f/62/meets-get-togethers-factory-tours http://www.head-fi.org/f/62/meets-get-togethers-factory-tour... here's buyer's guide also http://www.head-fi.org/a/2013-head-fi-summer-buying-guide-introduction http://www.head-fi.org/a/2013-head-fi-summer-buying-guide-in...